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Anarchy and the State of Nature according to Thomas Hobbes
Anarchy is characterized by the absence of hierarchy and a lack of a higher authority that governs states. In this context, each state operates independently, akin to pool balls on a table. In such a system, individuals are left to navigate their own conflicts without recourse to an overarching authority. Thomas Hobbes articulated the implications of this scenario through his concept of the state of nature, where individuals are in constant competition for power due to the absence of a higher authority. This foundational understanding of anarchy emphasizes the inherent struggles for dominance that emerge in a lawless environment.